Psychological key terms Flashcards
Depression
A common and serious mental illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act.
Unipolar depression
A type of mood disorder that causes periods of feeling sad and lack of motivation to do anything
Twin studies
Studies that are conducted on identical or fraternal twins that aims to reveal the importance of environmental and genetic influences on traits, phenotypes and disorders
Genetic predisposition
A genetic characteristic that gives someone an increased chance of developing a certain disease/condition.
Diathesis stress model
The explanation that a disorder or behaviour trait is a result of an interaction between genetic predisposition vulnerability and stress, usually caused by life events.
Cognitive theory
Attempts to explain human behaviour by studying the mental process involved in trying to learn and understand.
Negative triad
Beck claimed that cognitive biases and negative self schemas maintained a negative triad, a negative and irrational view of ourselves, our future, and the world around us
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
A talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. Its usually used to treat anxiety and depression .
Drug therapy
The treatment of a mental disorder with the use of prescription drugs.
Detoxification
A procedure where toxins are removed from the body and medication, It may be required to ease the withdrawl of toxins such as alcohol and drugs
Neurotransmitters
Often referred to as the body’s chemical messengers, they are molecules used by the nervous system to transmit messages between neurons or from neuron to muscle
Noradrenaline
A neurotransmitter in both the peripheral and central nervous system(PNS & CNS). They are most notable to being associated with the “fight or flight” response to perceived danger.
Reuptake
The absorption by a presynaptic nerve ending of a neurotransmitter that it has secreted
Relapse
A return to previous use or abuse of alcohol or drugs
Addiction
The fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity
Learning theory
Abstract frameworks that describe how knowledge is received and processed during the learning experience.
Classical conditioning
A type of automatic and unconscious learning. This creates behaviour.
Operant conditioning
A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishment for behaviour. This can reinforce (Reward) good behaviour and behaviour which is punished will occur less frequency.
Social learning theory
Considers how both environmental and cognitive factors interact to influence learning and behaviour.
Reinforcement
Refers to anything that increases the likelihood that a response will occur.
Nature
Refers to all the genes and hereditary factors that influence who we are- from our physical appearance to personality characteristics
Nurture
The influence of external factors after conception e.g. life experiences and learing certain things.
Genes as an explanation
About half the risk for addiction is genetic. Genes affect the degree of reward that individuals experience when initially using a substance (e.g., drugs) or engaging in certain behaviors (e.g., gambling), as well as the way the body processes alcohol or other drugs.
Withdrawal
The combination of physical and mental effects that a person experiences after they stop using or reduce the intake of a substance such as alcohol or drugs.
